Couple to renew vows, then tangle on demo track at Jackie English benefit

Wednesday

Sep 11, 2013 at 11:30 AM

There will be an additional attraction at the 2013 Jackie Carey English Demolition Derby and Car Show Saturday at the Henry County Fairgrounds in Cambridge.

There will be an additional attraction at the 2013 Jackie Carey English Demolition Derby and Car Show Saturday at the Henry County Fairgrounds in Cambridge. “We have a couple who want to renew their wedding vows on top of their demolition derby cars and then have a grudge match against each other for bragging rights,” said Misty Wilson of the organizing committee.David and DeAnna Bishop, of Kewanee, will renew their wedding vows Saturday in front of the grandstand crowd, then “duke it out” in their own demo cars. The minister who married them 12 years ago will be doing the ceremony. Also, the original best man, George Johnson, will be riding with the bride since this will be her first time driving a demo car. The original maid of honor will be riding with the groom during the event that won’t end until one of the cars won’t run anymore.The couple is celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary on the day of the demo and with David knowing he was going to participate in the Jackie Carey English Demolition Derby, they thought that they would renew their vows as well in demo fashion. David has always participated in all the demolition derbies held at the Henry County Fairgrounds each year. The couple have three children.The vow renewal/grudge match will be held at 2 p.m. before the rest of the demo begins. English, of Cambridge, got some great news last week. She and her support group acquired a proclamation from Governor Pat Quinn declaring November as Alpha-1 Awareness Month. The proclamation effort is lead by individuals throughout Illinois and the United States affected by Alpha-1 (Antitrypsin Deficiency), a rare genetic condition that can cause life-threatening liver disease in children and can also lead to severe liver and lung disease in adults.“I was diagnosed in 2010 at the age of 40,” said English. “For many years, I was diagnosed incorrectly as having asthma, bronchitis or a sinus infection. For a long time, I even thought my difficulty breathing was because of Dave and the weight I gained from being pregnant. Then one day, I knew something was wrong. I was out of breath from just cleaning my kitchen counter. I went to my doctor who then sent me to a pusillanimous who both tested and diagnosed me as having Alpha-1. My lung function is now at 36 percent and it hasn’t gotten worse yet. I take each day one at a time and I encourage those that are having constant wheezing or chronic bronchitis to get tested. If I was tested for Alpha-1 earlier, my lung function would be greater today.”English said most patients and a lot physicians have never heard of Alpha-1, an inherited condition that may lead to deterioration of the lungs and liver. All too often, Alpha-1 causes permanent — and even deadly — organ damage because of delayed diagnosis. Alpha-1 affects approximately 100,000 people nationwide and less than 10 percent of those living with it have been properly diagnosed. An estimated 20 million people in the United States are undetected carriers of an abnormal gene that causes Alpha-1 and could pass it on to their children.Meanwhile, family and friends of English are hosting a Demolition Derby and Car Show Saturday for English, 41, at the fairgrounds. Proceeds from the events will help with out of pocket medical expenses and daily oxygen needs. Jackie is unable work at this time, has no insurance. She will eventually need a double-lung transplant. A car show will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry fee is a donation and entrance into the derby. Disc jockey Dave Beck of Galesburg will be on hand adding musical entertainment for the event. For more information about the car cruise contact Tonya Henry at (309) 781-0314.A demolition derby will be held in the grandstand at 2 p.m. Viola Boza Productions is sponsoring the event. Check-in for 80 and newer wire class, open wire class, weld class and small car class begins at 11 a.m. There is a suggested donation per each car entered into the demo derby fundraiser and also a suggested donation at the grandstand gate to watch the derby. Riders are allowed in all classes, except small cars. For rules or questions contact Rick Dobells at (309) 507-1974 or Chad Kizzie at (309) 737-8736.

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